Thomas clement



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. CLEMENT.

APPARATUS FOR TESTING LIQUIDS. No. 424,643. Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

,EYHJIIIHITITIIIIIIIMELIIIIIWWIUU'W ATTOHNE (No Model.) 2 Sheets-S heet 2.

T. CLEMENT.

APPARATUS FOR TEsTING LIQUIDS. No. 424,643. Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS CLEMENT, OF GLASGOXV, COUNTY OF LANARK, SCOTLAND.

APPARATUS FOR TESTING LIQUIDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,643, dated April 1, 1890.

Application filed August 26, 1889.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS CLEMENT, of Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, Scotland, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Testing Liquids, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for testing the acidity of milk, curd, oils, and other articles, and preferably by means of my improved process, as set forth in my application for patent of even date herewith, and has for its object the production of a simple and effective device which is readily handled and operated and determines positively the amount of acid contained in the said articles; and to this end it consists, essentially, in a testing tube or receptacle, into which the milk or other article to be tested is placed, an alkali-containing reservoir, connections between said alkali-containing reservoir and the testing-tube, and graduations on said testing tube or receptacle for indicating the height to which the said material is raised upon the entrance or mixing therewith of the alkali.

It further consists in an agitator for stirring or mixing the material during its testing, and also in pivotally mounting said testing-tube, whereby the same may be readily emptied after the operation of my improved apparatus. My invention furthermore consists in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved apparatus, the testing tube or receptacle thereof being shown as slightly tilted to allow of the discharge of the material therefrom. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and taken in a plane at right angles to the plane of said Fig. 1; and F1g.3

Serial No. 321,917. (No model.)

represents a longitudinal sectional view taken on line a: 00, Fig. 1, with the testing'tube or re ceptacle in its normal position.

A represents a suitable receptacle, supported upon any desirable form of standard B, which is preferably mounted upon a suitable plate or table C.

The reservoir A is either entirely or partially filled with a desirable alkali, and the inlet a and the outlet a thereof are preferably filled with stoppers a and a of rubber or other suitable material, to prevent the escape of said alkali. Screwing or otherwise fitting into a suitable standard D, mounted upon the table or plate G, is a pipe E, connected by a joint F to a pipe G, which latter pipe is connected to the reservoir A. A suitable valve g allows the entrance into the pipe E of the alkali from the receptacle A. Projecting from the standard D is the nipple D, having a passage (7-, connected with the passage of the pipe E. Pivoted upon said hollow nipple D is the hollow standard H, preferably formed with a socket H at the upper end thereof. Mounted in this socket by any suitable air-tight joint is the testing tube or receptacle 1, preferably consisting of glass or other transparent material and provided with suitable graduations 2'. By reference to the drawings it will be seen that this tube is preferably open at the bottom, allowing the entrance ot' the alkali, the flow of which is controlled by a suitable valve J in the standard H.

Arranged at the rear of the testing-tube I and standard 11,1 provide the backing K, mounted upon the plate 0, and formed or provided at its upper extremity with a catch or other means K for engaging the upper extremity of said testing-tube I. This catch K is preferably formed by securing to the backing K a piece of spring metal, the central port-ion of which is of substantially the same contour as the adjacent surface of the testing-tube I. The opposite extremities 7.: of this spring metal are bent outwardly, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. hen the testing-tube is forced to its upright position, the said ex thealkali attacks the,v indicator, and imme:

tremities k areforced apart and s-prin'g around the said tube, retaining the same in its desired position.

Mounted in the tube Iis a suitable agitator M, which is used to stir or miX the material filled into said tube. Thepreferable form of agitator consists of a rod 012, having its upper extremity formed with a loop or other suitable means t'or readily grasping the same. Mounted on said rod are suitable perforated disks m, arranged at intervals thereon.

Beneaththereceptacl'eI-is atray N, guided be readily withdrawn with whatever drippings have accumulated therein,

Theoperatiou of: my'improved apparatus is astollows: The" milk, curd, or whey isfirst filled into thereceptacle I, and then after ward a suitable indicatoris mixed therewith until the height of the milk and indicator reaches the commencement of the graduaztions i. tOallOWtllGT passage into the base of said receptacleot the alkali: contained in the reservoir' A, and meanwhile the agitator M is operatedtostir or mix the said material and alkali. Upon the entranceof'said alkali the height of the material gradually rises,-and t-he comes neutralized by the incoming alkali. As soon asthe said acid'is completely neutralized diately the materialis givenv aslight'pinkish tinge; The operator then shutsoif'the flowof the-alkali, and by notingt the height towhich the material has risen he determines the mine the amount of acid in the milk, curd, or

wheyat' anystage in the manufacture there;- of. The-preferable formof alkali used in thisprocess i'sf a normal solution-of caustic soda', an'd -the' preferable form of indicator is the material termed phenolpthaline, which isa residue-from saccharine or coal-tar. It will be understood, however, that my appaalkaligsince others may be used, and, if" desired, any other'substance might be usedinzstead of plienolpthaline which would have less affinity for the alkali than; the lactic-acid of Ithe milk, and which after the neutralization: of said acid would produce a noticeable result when attacked by the; surplus ofmilk.

This apparatus may also beused-for test 3 ing other materials besides milk, curd, or whey,.and' byplacing an. acid in the reservoir A said apparatus may be used to test the amount of alkali contained, in any de sired material; It may also be used to test the amount" of either acid or alkali in any desired salt by placing either an alkali or an acid in said reservoir and using a suitable indicator.

My apparatus is very simple in construction, is readily manufactured, and, as will be observed, is readily taken apart for the pur-v departing from the spirit of my'invention. in suitable ways 0, which allow said tray to Having thusfully. described my invention,

'what I claim as new, and desire to secure by ,taclef-or thematerial to be tested, an inlet in said testing tube, a-rcservoir Asa-connecting passage between said reservoir and re- ;ceptacle', and an agitator'or miner-tor mix- 1 ing said material, substantially as described. The valves J and g are then opened I 2. In combination, atesting tubeor'recep tacle for the material to be tested inn said ,tube,-a'reservoir A, a connecting-passage be= f tween said receptacle and reservoir A, and' an agitator'mounted in said receptacle" and j movable up and down therein substantially as set forth.

lactic acid of the milk, curd', or' whey be1- 3; Incombination; a testing'tube or receptacle-for thematerial to be tested,- an' inlet in said testing tube or'receptacle', a reservoir A, and a connecting-passage between said testingtube-or receptacle and the reservoir A, an agitator-frame, and perforated" disks mounted thereon; substantiallyas ant for j the purpose specified.

4:. Thecombination-ofa' testing t'ube or're- "ceptacle having an inlet in: the upper end i and hinged to a supporting-base, reservoir A, and piping between said hingedreceptacle and reservoir and opening into thelower part of said testing tube or receptaclaand graduations tprovided upon-saidreceptacle,

substantially as specified.-

5. The combinatiomwi'th asupport,- of; a hinged testing t'ubeior receptacle and clamp for retaining. said tube or receptacle in its normal position,substantially as set forth. 'ratus is not. limited to the particular form of 6; ln an-apparatusfor testingth'e acidity of material's,.the combination: of a support, a hinged recep'taclaa sprin'g clamp mounted on said support and adapted to-automatically engage said receptacle, a second receptacle, and a connection between said receptacles, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

7f. The combination, with; a supportaot a hinged testing tube or receptacle and a spring-clamp for automatically engaging said tube or receptacle andretaining the same in its desired position,substantially as do scribed.

8.1 11 combination,areservoir A,a hinged testing tube or receptacle, a connection between said reservoir and testing-tube, a support beneath said testing-tube, and a tray or my name, in the presence of two attesting 10 witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 6th day of June, 1889.

THOMAS CLEMENT.

Witnesses:

CLARK H. NORTON, A. E. PARSONS. 

